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Top Jharkhand Maoist leader held in Tezpur

By STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Dec 6 � The Maoist rebels today received a major jolt as an area commander of the outfit based in Jharkhand was arrested in Tezpur town today. However, it is still not clear whether the rebel had come to Assam to spread the activities of the Maoists or to take shelter as he is wanted in Jharkhand for several cases.

Police sources told The Assam Tribune that acting on a tip off, police arrested Anand Kharwar, @ Amit, @Amrit @ Kaltu Singh Kharwar of Latehar district of Jharkhand from Jironi Lodge in Tezpur town today. Immediately after the arrest, the photograph was sent to Ranchi for confirmation and Anand was identified immediately after receiving the detailed information from Jharkhand police.

Sources said that Anand was wanted for 18 cases of heinous crimes in Jharkhand and the Government of that State had announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for his arrest. The arrested militant was a zonal commander of the Maoist rebels in Jharkhand and he was in charge of the operations of the rebels in the districts of Garwa, Latehar and Palamou in Jharkhand, where the rebels are very active for quite some time.

Police said that another person, Anil Singh Kharwar, a relative of Anand, was also arrested, Anil is a mechanic working for Hindustan Electrical Company, which works for Power Grid Corporation. But it is not known whether he was involved in activities of the Maoists.

Sources said that it is not clear whether Anand came to Assam for spreading Maoist activities or to take shelter as a massive manhunt was launched against him in Jharkhand.

Meanwhile, though no activity of the Maoist rebels in Sonitpur district has come to notice so far, police is keeping a close watch on the vulnerable areas including the tea gardens having large number of workers of Jharkhand origin. The managers of the gardens have also been requested to inform the police if any outsider frequently visit any garden as visits of relatives to the garden workers is a common practice.

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